Binding Guide

Why Bind?

Whether you are creating a presentation or organizing your documents, binding can be a valuable resource.
There are several different types of binding and we want to help you find the style that meets your needs.
Types of binding include Comb, Double Loop Wire, Coil, VeloBind, Tape, Perfect, Thermal binding and padding.

Things to consider before purchasing a binder.

What kind of a look do you want for your bound documents?
Before purchasing a binding machine, think about how you would like it to appear.
Each method of binding will give your document a different look.

How many books will you be binding per day?
You will want to buy a machine that will work with the volume you need to bind.
If you are only binding a few books per day, a low volume (8-12 sheet punching capacity) binder should work for you.
If you will be binding several dozen books per day you will want something with a larger punching capacity.
If you will be binding hundreds of books per day, you will probably want a machine with an electric punch that can punch several sheets of paper at a time.

What will the application of your bound document be?
You will need different kinds of binding for different applications.
Do you want something that is less expensive, more professional, re-usable, something that will lay flat, or something that is easy to store?
Plastic comb binding is less expensive and easy to use, while double loop binding provides a more professional look.
These are all things to consider when purchasing a binding machine.

What are the different types of binding?

Plastic Comb Binding
Plastic comb binding is one of the most popular forms of binding.
Plastic combs are not only durable, but they can be re-used.

Plastic combs are widely used by schools, businesses and are easy for home use.

You have the option to purchase a machine with an electric or manual punch.
Manual punches are usually used for small to medium volume jobs and the electric punches are usually used for medium to high volume jobs.
It all depends on how much work you want to do.

Plastic comb binders first punch the holes for the paper.
After punching the holes, you place a binding comb on the machine.
You then pull a handle which opens the combs up for you.
While the comb is open, you place the comb through the holes and close the plastic comb.

Create a contemporary, professional image right at your desk.
Double loop bound documents lay flat and wrap around for easy reading.
In addition, pages are bound so securely that they won't fall out and documents maintain their neat appearance for the lifetime of the information.

There are three different types of wire binding.
There is what is known as 3:1 pitch, 2:1 pitch and Spiral-O.

3:1 wire means that the machine will punch three holes per inch (32 holes total along the 11" side of a standard sheet of paper).
You can only use 3:1 wire with a machine that punches 3:1.

3:1 pitch wire binds a stack of paper as small as 3/16" (10 sheets of standard 20 pound paper) up to 9/16" (120 sheets of standard 20 pound paper).

2:1 wire machines will punch two holes per inch (21 total holes).

As with a 3:1 machine, the 2:1 machine can only use 2:1 wire. 2:1 wire can bind a stack of paper as small as 1/4 inch (20 sheets of standard 20 pound paper) up to 1 1/4 inch (230 sheets of standard 20 pound paper).

Spiral-O wire is also known as wire comb binding because it uses the same style of punching die as plastic comb.
A Spiral-O binding machine punches 19 total holes along the 11 inch side of a standard sheet of paper.
A Spiral-O double loop wire machine can only use Spiral-O double loop wire.

Some machines have been made that will bind Spiral-O twin loop wire and plastic comb.
The Ibimaster 400-E is an example of this.

A Double Loop wire machine is easy to use.
After punching the paper, you insert the wire and close the wire.
The wire closer is usually built into the machine.
Wire closers can be purchased separately.

Coil Binding"Pages turn very easily and the book will lay completely flat."

Coil binding is a continuous PVC filament formed into the shape of a spring.
You may recognize this type of binding.
It is very similar to the spiral notebooks you may have used in school.

Properties of this binding are:

Pages turn very easily and the book will lay completely flat.

Pages may also be opened back to back, while remaining flat.

Very durable. Excellent crush resistance.

Variety of colors available.

Binding books with this system involves 3 simple steps:

Punching the paper and punch.

Inserting the spiral.

Cutting and crimping the ends of the spiral.

As with plastic binding and double loop wire binding, you can purchase the coil binding machine with a manual or electric punch.
You will have to make the decision as to what your workload will be.
A manual punch will be fine for a small to medium workload.
You will probably want an electric punch if you will be involved in larger volume binding.

Some machines include a motor run coil inserter which will quickly turn the coils through the holes.
An example of this would be the model PC-2000.
Most coil binding machines require that you insert the coils yourself like the CoilMac or Rubicoil.

Coil binding is available with 4:1 pitch binding and 5:1 pitch binding.
4:1 machines punch 4 holes per inch and the 5:1 machines punch 5 holes per inch.
You need to make sure you get the correct coils for your machine.

No binding style is more secure, because VeloBind literally locks pages in place. For sleek, slim styling, books lay flat for easy filing and mailing. VeloBind comes in a variety of colors using only 3 sizes of elements, and can securely bind books up to 3" thick.

Velobind uses a 1/4" wide binding element. There are several different types of VeloBind Binding.

Desktop and Electric Desktop VeloBind models are for the entry level user. These binders are for low volume and use a 4 prong VeloBind strip.

The Desktop/Electric model punches 4 holes. After the holes are punched you put the binding element through the hole and snap it shut on the other side.

The next step up in VeloBind binding is the System I, II and III. All three of these models are what is known as "hot knife" VeloBind Binder. The System I, II, and III models use an 11 prong binding element.

After punching the holes, you put the binding strips through the holes. The machine will then cut the excess prongs off and seal everything off with heat. This provides a very secure bind.

The System I binds up to 1 inch, the System II binds up to 2 inches and the System III binds up to 3 inches.

We also carry supplies for the Cold Knife VeloBind system and the Personal VeloBind System. The Cold Knife system uses an 11 prong binding element, but has gripping teeth that hold the binding elements together rather than heat. The Personal VeloBind System uses a binding element with 6 prongs.

Tape Binding"Easy to use and produces quality results in only seconds."

There are two types of thermal binding, Thermal binding which uses heat to apply the tape and cold binding which requires no heat.

Thermal tape binding offers a high quality professional appearance while eliminating the labor time and costs of punching each document set. Thermal tape binders produce strong binds and are a highly productive off-line binding solution for any organization that needs to produce a bound book quickly and easily and with a high quality appearance.

Cold tape binding offers a simple, low-volume bind which can be used for small projects to temporary storage of documents. Cold tape binders simply apply a band of tape which already includes the adhesive to a stack of unbound papers. It is easy to use and produces quality results in only seconds.

The process of perfect binding is simple. Place a stack of paper in clamps located on top of the machine. After the paper is secure, the machine will slide the paper across a roller which is coated with hot glue. The glue is evenly spread across the spine of the paper where it is then cooled off by fans.

The optional nipper clamp helps you add a professional cover to your bound documents.

Thermal Binding
Create thermally-bound presentations, proposals and reports with a clean, sleek look, in seconds! Bound books are easy to use, mail and file easily, and have a library quality appearance.

Thermal binding is a simple concept. The thermal binding machines use pre-glued spines. You apply the paper into the pre-glued spine and place it in the pre-heated holding tray on the machine. The machine heats the glue up. After the glue cools off you have a well bound document.

Although the pre-glued spines are a more expensive than other methods of binding, they provide a professional bound document for the low volume user.

Padding
Padding presses are an effective way to create pads of paper. The idea is simple. After creating a stack of paper, you place the paper underneath the clamps on the padding machine. After the paper is under the clamps, tighten them.

After everything is in place, you apply liquid glue to the paper using a brush. After the glue has dried you can remove the pad of paper and continue with the next stack of paper you would like to pad.

By using a padding press, you can pad scrap pieces of paper together and create your own note pads.

What will work for you?

Only you can decide what will be the right binding machine for you. Please feel free to look at the different methods available and see if one catches your eye. Keep into consideration what your daily volume will be and how long you will need the machine.

Please feel free to give one of our experienced sales associates a call at our toll free number at (800) 658-8788 and ask them any questions you may have.

Glossary

2:1 - Two holes punched per inch. 21 total holes along the 11" side of a paper.

3:1 - Three holes punched per inch. 32 total holes along the 11" side of a paper.

4:1 - Four holes punched per inch.

5:1 - Five holes punched per inch.

19 Ring Wire - 19 ring wire is double loop wire that has been made to fit through holes made by a plastic comb binding machine. 19 ring wire is also known as Spiral-O wire.

Binding Element - The supply that your binding machine uses. An example of this would be plastic comb, double loop wire, a coil, etc..

Crimping Pliers - Crimping pliers cut off and bend the excess coil after the coil has been inserted. Crimping pliers are only used with Coil Binding.

Die - The part of the binding machine that physically punches the paper.

Disengaging Die - Some binding machines have disengaging dies. This means that the user has complete control over which hole punches and which does not. Most binding machines do not have disengaging Dies. Disengaging dies are not to be confused with interchangeable dies. Interchangeable dies are dies that can be completely removed from the machine and be replaced with a new die.

Interchangeable Die - Interchangeable dies are dies that can be completely removed from the machine and be replaced with a new die.

Mandrel - A cylinder looking unit that is used with coil binding machines with a coil inserter. The coil winds around the mandrel before being inserted into the punched document. The size of the mandrel depends on the size of coil being used.

Margin Depth - How far the binding machine will punch into the paper. Some binding machines have a fixed margin depth, and some machines have an adjustable margin depth.

Nipper Clamp - The nipper clamp squares the book cover off and fits it perfectly around the bound document. This creates a paper bound book. An additional paper cutter may be needed to cut of any excess paper if the book cover is not cut to fit the book before binding.

Pitch - Pitch is the style of holes your machine punches. Different binding machines have a different pitch. The spacing of the holes your machine punches depending on the pitch.

Spiral-O Wire - Spiral-O wire is double loop wire that has been made to fit through holes made by a plastic comb binding machine. Spiral-O wire is also known as 19 ring wire.

Waste or Catch Tray - The part of the machine that catches the punched out pieces of paper during the paper punching process.